Heel extension and protecting device.



G. H. BROWN. HEEL EXTENSION AND PROTECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1911. 1,090,098.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

Ill; 1 17 III I //////J7///I:\W 9 4 /0 7 Zia/c297 4Z0 7" 1 57 id) it WNTTEE STATES PATENT Uhll lltlitli.

CHARLES HENRY BROWN, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

HEEL EXTENSION AND PROTECTING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES IIENRY Bnown, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in llccl Extensions and Protecting Devices, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices for use with foot apparel provided with heels, and has been especially designed to correct certain deficiencies in such articles, particularly shoes, and which is intended for use either by itself or in combination with any of the devices known in the art as arch supports.

In the act of walking, the entire weight of the body is carried first upon one foot and then upon the other. WVhile the weight of the body is thus suspended on one foot, the line of the thrust is down through the center of the large bone of the lower leg. This thrust is received upon a shelf-like extension on the inner margin of the top bone of the feet, under which is the hollow part of the inside of the foot, technically known as the arch. Between the bottom of this shelf and the floor of the foot, there is no bone support, and the shelf extends somewhat beyond and to the inner side of the bones of the arch of the foot. The foot is held in its upright position, and carries all of the weight imposed above it by a system of large muscles running from the calf of the leg down the inner side of the foot and heel. As the point of thrust is down through the outermost end of the shelf referred to, the natural tendency of the foot under pressure is to bend or fall away over toward its inner side, it being prevented from so doing by the leg and foot muscles. When these muscles are weakened by disease, or subjected to over-strain, the foot, lacking a proper support, tends to roll over or inward, and the condition known as broken down arch or flat foot exists.

The heels of shoes are relatively rather small and as usually constructed are placed so that the point of thrust is slightly forward of the front edge of the heel, and a little to the outside of the inner edge of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13.1911.

l heel. As the arch of the foot turns or rolls inward, all the weight of the body as it is received by the shoe usually falls, therefore, just in front of he forward point of the innor side of the heel. At every step this tends to force the shank of the shoe downward, and the rear end of heel upward, pro ducing an action which wears the point of the heel away rapidly, and, further, throws more and more weight upon the weakened supporting muscles, which aggravates the trouble as the bones are forced more and more out of their natural. alineinent.

For broken down arch flat foot etc, various styles of arch supports have been devised which contribute materially toward causing relief to the weakened and strained muscles. It is a well known fact, however, that such relief is very frequently only temporary. Furthermore, in many instances the application of the arch support inserted within the shoe does not correct the deficiency, for the reason that the weakened foot continues to roll or turn over on to the inner point of the heel of the shoe, and, as this point wears away the heel, the foot and arch support all roll over together and the same conditions are again present as if no support were used. 7

It is one object of the present invention to provide a device for correcting the deliciencies in present heel constructions by extending the inner forward point of the heel forward and laterally so as to provide a bearing point substantially undcrnrath the point of thrust, the device being of a character and material such as to prevent the shoe from rolling inward under pressure and protect the point of the heel from rapidly wearlng away.

It is a further object of the invention to slightly elevate or raise the inner forward point of the heel (which is usually lower than the opposite point) so as to provide the support needed at this point of the foot arch and prevent the foot from rolling.

It is a further object of the invention to provide through the use of the device an adequate tread for the heel of the shoe, and a substantial unvarying base over which to suspend an arch supporting device in fases where such a supporting device is used.

A device for accomplishing these desired objects and remedying the defects referred to is illustrated in one of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the heel portion of the shoe, showing the device secured in position on the inner corner of the heel; Fig. 2 is a side View of the construction iluustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3, showing a somewhat different mode of use of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the device is shown and will be described as applied to the inner corner of a heel. It will, of course, be understood that there are some conditions of foot weakness where it would be desirable or necessary to apply the device to the forward outer corner of the heel, and still other conditions where it would be necessary or desirable to apply it to both the corners of the heel, and it will be further understood that the device may be so used.

The specific construction of the device may be somewhat varied. To have its function of a protecting device for preventing the heel from wearing away too rapidly, as well as for forming a support, the device will be made of hard metal such as steel, to afford a wearing surface which will strongly resist the wear occasioned by walking.

As illustrated, the device is in the form of a light steel shell 1, shaped to substantially fit the corner of the heel to which it is to be applied, being therefore, preferably triangular shaped as shown. The shell is provided with side walls or flanges 2 adapted to bear against the side and front inner edge of the heel. The apex of the shell, when the latter is triangular in shape, extends forward and laterally of the heel, as indicated at 4, thus acting to extend the heel and afford a firm support to receive in the proper place the thrust due to the weight of the body in walking, and at the same time provides a wearing surface which resists ordinary wear. The flanges 2 may if desired for the sake of lightness and to avoid proj'ecting parts be formed as indicated in Fig. 4, that is, slightly beveled, so as to rest snugly against the parts of the heel with which they come in contact.

7 As indicated above, it is desirable that the heel at the point where the device is attached be slightly elevated. The desired elevation may be obtained in various ways. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the device may be made somewhat thicker at its apex than at its rear portions, so that its wearing surface 5 will extend downwardly slightly toward the front, or slant slightly relatively to the top lift of the heel and so elevate the heel at the desired point. iVith this construction, the device is, as shown, of solid metal. Preferably, however, and as shown in Fig.

4, in order to lighten the device as much as possible, a wedge 10 is employed which fits into the apex of the shell between the surface of the top lift 9 and the inner surface of the shell, the wedge acting to cause the corner of the device to project downwardly slightly relatively to the heel and thus tend to elevate the heel at the point. The wedge 10 also provides an additional support, which might not be provided by the device itself, is desirable under some circumstances, as for instance when a foot has been brought more or less to its natural position. It will be understood, of course, that the wedges used will be of suflicient dimensions to elevate the heel as required, and to provide any additional support desirable.

Suitable means are provided for securing the shell and the wedge, when the wedge is used, as, for instance, a countersunk screw 6 to prevent the device from being moved out of position, or moved forward under the action of walking. Further securing means are likewise preferably provided. These means may, of course, be varied, but as a convenient construction the rear edge 7 of the shell may turn upwardly and be formed with a. series of teeth or points 8, which are driven into the top lift 9 of the heel before inserting the screw 6, such securing means making it very simple and easy to apply and remove the device for the purpose of replacing the top lift when the rear end or other port-ion ofthe heel becomes worn.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise construction shown and described, but that changes and variations may be made in the same without departing therefrom.

What is claimed is 1. An article of the class described comprising a detachable shell of hard metal adapted to be fitted on the corner of a heel and having a wearing surface extending forwardly and laterally beyond the edges of the heel to provide a bearing point beyond the corner of the heel and prevent the foot from rolling out of normal position, and having provision for securing it to the heel.

2. An article of the class described comprising a detachable shell of hard met-al adapted to be fitted on the corner of the heel and having a wearing surface extending forwardly and laterally beyond the edges of the heel to provide a bearing point beyond the corner of the heel and prevent the foot from rolling out of normal position and projecting downwardly relatively to the top lift toward the point of the heel to elevate the same and having provision for securing it to the heel.

3. The combination with a heel, of a shell of hard metal fitted on the corner of the heel and having a wearing surface extending forwardly and laterally beyond the edges of the heel to provide a bearing point beyond the corner of the heel and prevent the foot from rolling out of normal position, and means for securing the piece on the heel,

l. The combination with a heel, of a shell of hard metal fitted on the corner of the heel and having a wearing surface extending forwardly and laterally beyond the edges of the heel to provide a bearing point beyond the corner of the heel and prevent the foot from rolling out of normal position and projecting downwardly relatively to the top lift toward the point of the heel to elevate the same slightly, and means for securing the piece on the heel.

The combination with a heel, of a shell of hard metal shaped triangularly interiorly to fit on the corner of the heel and having a wearing surface projecting beyond the corner edges of the heel, a wedge inserted between the shell and the top lift of the heel to cause the shell to project downwardly relatively to the top-lift toward the point of the heel so as to elevate the same, and means for preventing the shell from Working forward when walking.

(3. The combination with a heel, of a shell of hard metal shaped triangularly interiorly to lit on the corner of the heel and having a wearing surface projecting beyond the corner edges of the heel, a wedge inserted between the shell and the top lift to cause the shell to project downwardly relatively to the top lift toward the point of the heel so as to elevate the same, means for securing the shell to the heel, and means on the shell for preventing it from working forward when walking.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES HENRY BROWN.

\Vitnesses:

A. WVHITE, T. F, KEHoE.

Copier: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent, Washington, D. G. 

